Tigers win their first TSL game for 2020 with a mauling of the Roos at Richmond

They’ve been called “kittens” and “toothless Tigers”, but the boys in black and yellow put that to bed by mauling a State League finals contender.

Tasmanian State League. Kieran Lovell was best afield in the Tigers’ win over Clarence at Richmond. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

• Clarence believes wounded Tigers could mean trouble
• Return of two gun backmen boosts pies to first win of season

A MIDFIELD masterclass by tenacious Tiger Kieran Lovell and a multi-dimensional forward line helped Trent Baumeler’s boys break the ice in spectacular fashion at Richmond Oval on Saturday when they made Roo patties out of Clarence.

It was the Tigers’ first win from four attempts and although the home side fought back gallantly in the final term, too much damage had been done and the Tigers cruised home by 15 points, 12.5 (77) to 9.8 (62).

The whoops and roars coming from the changerooms post-match bore testament to what the victory meant to the ravenous Tigers.

“You’ve got to celebrate when you win,” Baumeler said.

“Whether it’s but one point or 100, we did our job, we came out here, away from home, to get a win and we did that.”

Tyler Carter set the scene for the Tigers, kicking two goals in the first six minutes. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The win got the monkey off the Tigers’ back and silenced the club’s critics.

“It had been pretty widely spoken about that we were the only team that hadn’t won a game,” Baumeler said.

“The thing I am most happy with is we didn’t listen to the outside noise, what people were saying about us. The boys don’t buy into the opinions of people who don’t know what they are talking about.

“Our game-style was good for three quarters. It went a little bit pear-shaped in the last quarter, but a win’s a win, you take it and bank it. We’re on the board.”

You could hear a pin drop in the Clarence changerooms, aside from coach Jeromey Webberley explaining how the loss cost his side a chance to slip into the TSL’s top four given Lauderdale’s loss to North Launceston.

Clarence’s Josh Green kicked three goal despite playing with a broken nose. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Tigers set the standard in the first term when their pressure was ferocious and forward line top-shelf.

Big Tiger Tyler Carter put Clarence on notice with two goals in the first six minutes, and although Roo defender Zac Buechner put the brakes on the Carter express, he still managed to kick three, along with the team’s most dangerous forward Luke Graham.

Roo red-head Josh Green also booted three goals – his best since returning from the AFL – despite a broken nose and intense pressure from his Tiger opponent Sam Rice.

The Tigers must assess a shoulder injury to Lachie Clifford.